Combination display stand and sentinel tower



Sept. 23, l941 D. BARRACK' 2,256,702

COMBINATION DISPLAY STAND AND SENTINEL TOWER Filed Sept. 19, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 III""""" Inventor ZaZZa' iarraa/l' 1/ A itorneys Sept. 23, 1941. D. BARRACK COMBINATION DISPLAY STAND ANII SENTINEL TOWER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 19, 1939 Inventor 1222a,? Earl-00%? A iiomeys Patented Sept. 23, 1941 COMBINATION DISPLAY STAND AND SENTINEL TOWER Dallas Barrack, Springdale, Ark.

Application September 19, 1939, Serial No. 295,674

2 Claims.

This invention is a combination display stand and sentinel tower for use in stores for the display of merchandise and also for use for housing a guard comfortably and in a manner enabling the guard to observe various parts of the store, the customers and clerks, and the action of such persons for the purpose of frustrating shop lifters, pickpockets and others similarly bent.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the combination display stand and sentinel tower.

Fig. 2 is a view mostly in vertical section through the device.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and looking downwardly in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. l and looking upwardly in the direction of the arrow.

Referring more in detail to the drawings it will be seen that in the preferred embodiment thereof the combination display stand and sentinel tower comprises a hollow upright base 5 having vertical walls 6 and a door 1. Access is had to the tower at the side thereof equipped with the door 1, and which door is hinged for horizontal swinging movement as at 8.

The base 5 also has a top wall 9 from which rises an observation cap I!) formed of stepped sections as shown, with each section of the cap equipped at each side thereof with a sight window II, the transparency of which is of such a character or is so provided that one occupying the tower may see therethrough while others exteriorly of the tower may not see into the tower through such windows.

The cap H] has rising from the top section thereof a cylindrical formation I2 on the upper end of which is mounted a wire basket or other suitable receptacle 13 of any suitable design and which may be employed for holding captive balloons or other articles of ornamentation and of an attractive character.

Each of the walls 6 of the base portion 5 of the tower is provided on the exterior thereof with bins or shelves [4 for holding articles of merchandise or the like for display and sales purposes.

The base 6 of the tower is provided with a raised flooring 15 and flooring 15 is provided of the base at the bottom of the base are provided with air openings l'l.

Mounted in the cylindrical formation I2 is a fan or the like l8 which will serve to cause a forced circulation of air through the tower, as clearly suggested in Fig. 2 of the drawings so as to render the tower cool and comfortable for the guard or occupant.

Also in connection with the above, captive balloons or the like in the receptacle I3 will be affected by the currents of air forced upwardly through the formation I2 with the result that such balloons will be kept in a constant state of turbulence and therefore an attractive display may be provided thereby.

To accommodate the guard or occupant of the tower, a seat is provided therein, and is shown in Fig. 2 as a chair l9.

Also suitably mounted or arranged in the upper portion of the base 5 of the tower there may be, as shown, a work desk, a filing cabinet or the like 20 for obvious purposes.

For the door I a suitable concealed lock 2| is provided as shown (see Fig. 3).

From the above it will be seen that the device will serve admirably as a display for articles of merchandise and also as a sentinel tower for a guard who may observe, from the tower, the actions of customers, clerks, and other occupants of the store at substantially all times.

It will also be noted that on the outer side thereof the door I is provided with display with air passages or openings it while the walls shelves or bins Ma, the ends of the shelves projecting beyond the side edges of the door and the shelving on that wall 6 to which the door I is hinged terminating a distance from the hinged edge so that the door can be opened Without interference from the shelving as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3.

By having these bins or shelves disposed at all four sides of the device, the same-will appear more as a simple display stand and ordinarily will not be recognized as a sentinel tower, thus adding to the utility of the device.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utility and advantages of a combination display stand and sentinel tower embodying the features of the present invention will be had without a more detailed description.

Having'thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A camouflaged guard tower for a store comprising an upright structure, a plurality of reduced portions at the top of the structure arranged in a stepped formation, windows in the tower to observe occupants of the store, and a shelf forming structure surrounding the major part of the tower structure for holding articles and acting to disguise the real purpose of the tower as a watchman tower the stepped formation with the windows therein facilitating the occupant of the tower observing persons taking articles from the shelf forming structure.

2. In a watchmanfs tower for the interior of a store including a door, a shelf forming structure connected to the exterior walls of the tower and a shelf forming structure connected to the exterior face of the door, the latter structure having its ends extending beyondthe side edges of the door with the structure on that side wall of the tower adjacent the hinged edge of the door terminating a distance fro m the sidepedge of said adjacent wall to which the door is hinged for providing a space for the adjacent end of the shelf structure connected with the door when the door is open.-

DALLAS BARRACK. 

